Darrell Huckaby is a weekly columnist in our local paper here, the Athens Banner-Herald. He tells homespun tales in his column in the attempt to be another Lewis Grizzard, an author I admire. He is also a public school teacher who is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia. He is also a lover of American history, something I have become passionate about over the past 25 years or so. I dare say that Darrell has become a beloved member of the Athens community and he's become a much sought after speaker. He has also publicly shared some tough times as he has dealt with cancer, so he's known as a really great, classy guy.
Lately, he's been in the tour guide business, leading tours to various places, with an upcoming trip to New York City in December. My wife Pat saw the advertisement in the paper and thought it looked good. She asked if I was interested, and I quickly said "Absolutely not!" Now, given what I told you about him, you would think I would be a fan of Darrell's, but I'm not.
She asked why and I explained that in one of his early columns years ago he insulted the city of Pittsburgh. To be honest, I hardly remember the details of the insult -- something about his neighbor (a former Pittsburgher) not knowing the difference between a cookout and a barbecue. But, I remember it went a little further than that because, at least in his early columns (the only ones I ever read) he also had a tendency -- in a nice way -- to tell all Northerners they should go home. I really haven't thought about any of this for a long time, but I remembered them all the moment my wife mentioned the idea of going on his New York tour. I could not bear the thought -- and paying for the opportunity -- of spending time with a guy who publicly disrespected my hometown.
P.S. Let me say that I admire anyone who has the ability, talent, and work ethic to write a weekly column, and I also admire the way he's handled life's challenges, so despite what message I seem to conveying above, I do respect Darrell and wish him well.
Lately, he's been in the tour guide business, leading tours to various places, with an upcoming trip to New York City in December. My wife Pat saw the advertisement in the paper and thought it looked good. She asked if I was interested, and I quickly said "Absolutely not!" Now, given what I told you about him, you would think I would be a fan of Darrell's, but I'm not.
She asked why and I explained that in one of his early columns years ago he insulted the city of Pittsburgh. To be honest, I hardly remember the details of the insult -- something about his neighbor (a former Pittsburgher) not knowing the difference between a cookout and a barbecue. But, I remember it went a little further than that because, at least in his early columns (the only ones I ever read) he also had a tendency -- in a nice way -- to tell all Northerners they should go home. I really haven't thought about any of this for a long time, but I remembered them all the moment my wife mentioned the idea of going on his New York tour. I could not bear the thought -- and paying for the opportunity -- of spending time with a guy who publicly disrespected my hometown.
P.S. Let me say that I admire anyone who has the ability, talent, and work ethic to write a weekly column, and I also admire the way he's handled life's challenges, so despite what message I seem to conveying above, I do respect Darrell and wish him well.
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